The Cut @ Open
A good night all round
Tonight OPEN, BBC Introducing and Outline present The Cut, the first of what is set to be a series of regular nights featuring the cream of local talent. I knew I was in for a good night when editor Lizz's playlist included the Runaways' Cherry Bomb...
Having been impressed by Midnight Zoo's afternoon set for the Sonic Youths showcase at NS+V, I was looking forward to this. Yeah, guitarist Jess sings and looks uncannily like Ian Curtis and the music he, Zachary and Michael make isn't a million miles away from Joy Division but they are forging their own sound. There is a healthy dose of Bleach era Nirvana with touches of Chameleons and Bauhaus. The sound is more muscular and there is more confidence and stagecraft than at NAC but there is still that charming hint of shyness and gawkiness. Tight, atmospheric and very, very promising.
According to their FarceBook profile, Thieving Icons play "fast paste (sic) songs", whatever that may mean. Whatever, this is decent if unexceptional pop-punk-indie, kinda Ash, a bit Green Day and a lot Scouting For Girls. Bugger me, there's even a bit of 2Tone, albeit more No Doubt than The Specials. I wasn't overwhelmed but a fair portion of the crowd got into it and it grew on me. Lightweight and unchallenging it may be but it is also enjoyable, knockabout if throwaway fun that eventually had me nodding my head and tapping my feet.
I last saw Secret From Richard a good while ago and they've been through a line-up change in the interim. After some technical issues they kick off and there's a new dubby, bass heaviness to their driving indie/alt.rock sound. The songs are anthemic and the set is chock full of big ideas and bigger choruses but it simply doesn't grab me in the way they did last time I saw them. That's not to say this is bad. It isn't by any stretch but it just didn't quite do it for me.
Of course BK & Dad were going to blow the bloody roof off this place. Would we expect anything else? But I wasn't expecting it to be this good. From opener Loggerhead on, Pip's drumming is as inventive as it is thunderous while Leo makes an awesome - in the true meaning of the word - cacophony with his guitar and battery of peddles. Musically, BK & Dad create an astonishing, face-melting wall of industrial-garage-noise. It isn’t all about noise though, as they have actual, proper songs. Truth be told, I've not been a fan of Leo's vocals previously but tonight there is a confidence in them that makes it all click into place. Having seen 'em a fair few times over the years, this was perhaps their best performance yet. Just astounding.
So, a good night all round. Roll on the next one.
